Folding umbrella.



S. C. BURNHAM.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION FILED APR-8,1915.

1 1 75,597. Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

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SHEPARD C. BURNHAM, OF DIXO1\T,-ILLINOIS.

FOLDING UMBRELLA. I

Application filed April 8, 1915.

State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Folding Umbrella, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, andexact descrip- I tion. a

This invention relates to folding umbrellas and has for its generalobjects to improve and simplify the construction and operation ofumbrellas of this type so as to be of durable and substantial design,comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and capable ofbeing easily and quickly folded'and unfolded.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a novelarrangement of bows and braces whereby the umbrella can be folded into avery small space, the rod of the umbrella being made in telescoping ordetachable sections so that when the rimbrella is not in use the totallength will be reduced to a minimum.

With such objects in view, and others which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention comprises various novel features ofconstruction and arrangement of parts which will be set forth withparticu larity in the following description and claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of theinvention and wherein similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views, Figure 1 is a sectional view of anumbrella with its bows in open position; Fig. 2 is a similar view withthe bows folded; Fig. 3

is a detail view of the handle of the umbrella; Fig. 4: is a side viewof the umbrella body folded anddetached from the handle; and Fig. 5 isan enlarged sectional view of the spring catches for holding the runnerand for holding the sections of the handle rod.

Referring to the drawing, A is a handle rod of an umbrella which iscomposed of a handle section 1, an intermediate section 2 and a tipsection 3. These fit one in another in an order reverse to thatmentioned, the sections 1 and 2 being tubular. On the lower end of thesection 3 and section 2 are spring-actuated catches 4 which protrude outof the recesses 5 by reason of the tension of backing springs 6, andthese catches are adapted respectively to engage in openingsSpecification of Letters Patent Patented Mar. is, isle. Serial no.19,911.

7 and 8 in the upper ends of the intermediate and handle sections. Byreleasing these 'catchesthe sections of the handle rod can be takenapart, and if desired the intermediate section 2can be housed in thesection 1.

The cover B of the umbrella is supported by bows 9 that extend from theedge of the coverlnwardly in radial relation but terminate short of thehandle rod to which they are not directly connected. Each how 9 ispivotally connected at 10 with the outer end of a brace 11, the braces11 being pivotally connected with a collar 12 fixed on the tip section8; The pivot points 10 are disposed outwardly from the inner ends of thebows, and such inner ends are pivotally connected at 1'3 with theactuating braces 14, which braces 14: cross the braces 11 and extenddownwardly from the bows 10 and are pivotally connected with. a runner15. runner 1b is pulled downwardly from the section 3 to the section 2when the umbrella is to be opened, and when fully open the runnerengageswith a spring catch 16 carried by the upper part of the intermediatesection 2. In pushing the runner 15 upwardly from the position shown inFig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the umbrella is closed or folded. Theclosing movement causes the inner ends of the bows to swing upwardly,about the pivots 10, and also causes the braces 11 to swing inwardly andupwardly and lie close around the handle rod, as do also the bows andactuating braces 14. In closing, the cover B folds on a circular linecoincident with the inner ends of the bows. By reason of this doublebrace arrangement the umbrella will be held firmly in open positionwithout danger of turning inside out, and at the same time the openingand closing movement is rendered easy.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, the advantages of the construction and method of operation willbe readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains, and while I have described the principle of operation,together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodimentthereof, I desire This to have it understood that the device shown claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An'umbrella comprising a handle rod, a cover having its centralportion fixedly secured to the handle rod adjacent the tip thereof, arunner slidable on the handle rod, ribs secured to the cover andextending inwardly from the periphery thereof to points short of thehandle rod, braces pivotally connected with the inner ends of the ribsand also connected with the runner, and braces pivotally connected withthe ribs at points outwardly from their inner ends and pivot allyconnected with the handle rodat a point between the runner and thecover, the

first mentioned braces being so related to the second mentioned bracesthat all the braces converge toward the handle end of the handle rodwhen the umbrella is open, and the first mentioned braces cross thesecond mentioned braces.

' 2. A folding umbrella comprising a handle rod, a cover fixedly securedto the han- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for dle rod adjacentthe tip thereof, ribs of less length than the radius of the cover andextending from the periphery toward andter- V minating short of thecenter of the cover, a

set of long braces hingedly connected di rectly with the inner ends ofthe ribs, a

runner slidable on the handle rod and to which the braces are pivotallyconnected, each brace being a single piece, and short braces connectedwith the handle rod at a fixed point spaced from the cover and be tweenthe cover and runner, andalso piyotally connected with theribs at pointsout- 'wardly from their inner ends, and each short five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G,

